FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The U.S. women’s national soccer team, a model of excellence and consistency across decades, arrived in South Florida this week in a state of transition following one of the lowest moments in program history.
Luminaries have retired and veterans were left off the roster for a pair of friendlies against China, starting Saturday afternoon at DRV PNK Stadium. A wave of young players swept into training camp and fresh tactical approaches are being implemented ahead of the Paris Olympics next summer.
Ah yes, there is also one other major shift taking place: Twila Kilgore, the interim head coach in charge since the post-World Cup fallout last summer, is collaborating with her successor, Emma Hayes, who flew in from London to meet the players and begin laying the groundwork for her full-time arrival in May.